Two days later

Sounds carried from the distance. Voices. Girl's eyes opened and she bolted upright. She'd been napping, her new acquaintance curled up beside her.

"Where are you?" a harsh voice yelled.

Girl glanced at the animal, saw it was awake and watching her, and knew how much danger it was in. "You should hide," she whispered. "Grokk is dangerous. He kills everything."

But it moved closer. She pushed it toward the shadows, and it returned and wound its body around her right arm instead. She heard footsteps getting closer, managed to pry the animal off, and pushed it behind herself. "Stay hidden," she hissed. "It's not safe." When it reemerged anyway and crawled into her lap, she shoved it under the skins she wore.

It crept out yet again, wrapping itself around her left arm. She felt an intense surge of heat there, but her attention was focused on the man who'd come through the entrance, and the hot sensation went away. Then she realized the animal was gone.

Six days later

"Why are you just sitting there?" Grokk demanded. "When I tell you to do something, I expect you to obey. Where's the water you were supposed to get?" Grabbing Girl by the shoulders, he shook her before shoving her hard, and she landed on the ground. "You're moon-struck. Good for nothing."

She knew worse was sure to follow, but couldn't keep from glancing around yet again. No one but her seemed to notice the little figure dart behind a large rock, and she relaxed somewhat. She hadn't realized initially that her new acquaintance had followed her to the village, but she'd awakened this morning to find it nestled beside her. The creature was her first friend and she couldn't help but worry it would be killed.

A shadow fell over her and she looked into Grokk's glowering face. He drew back his right hand and she cringed, knowing what to expect. She'd end up with an aching jaw, puffy eye, and ringing ears, if not worse.

But something growled and he stopped before he brought his fist forward. She couldn't tell where the sound came from. No animal was anywhere close to them, but the low, rumbling grew in intensity. Grokk stared one direction, followed by another, expression revealing his confusion, and lowered his hand. He strode away, muttering under his breath.

Twelve days later

"Please take this." Girl held out her very last strip of bark. As expected, Grokk had put her out of the village again. She'd been unable to find any new food, and her saved moss and ground bark had rotted in her absence. Her remaining pieces of bark had been fine, just few in number.

Her friend, whom she'd named Fenna after having a strong feeling she was female, wouldn't eat, but bumped the human's chin with her head.

Girl winced. "That hurt. I felt something sharp." She examined the animal. "Ooh… you have horns coming out." Staring at them, she sighed. "You're growing and need to eat. Take the bark. I want you to have it."

Her offering remained untouched, however, until she divided it in half and they shared it.

That evening

Girl woke to something icy-cold and wet touching her nose and shrieked. She smiled, however, when she saw it was just Fenna. She sat up to pet her friend, but fell silent, eyes widening, when she saw the snake lying beside them. She scrambled to her feet as fast as she could, grabbed her companion, and started to run away.

Fenna jumped from her arms, went to the serpent and nosed it. Girl realized it hadn't moved and the truth dawned on her. "We needed food and you hunted while I slept," she concluded. "Thank you."

She used a sharp stone to sever the snake's head and tail, but longed for fire. It would've kept them warm and allowed her to cook the meat. But wishes were a waste of time and not real, so she put them from her mind, and carved pieces of raw flesh for them, savoring every bite.

Much later that day, she heard footsteps. Someone cleared his throat, and she picked up Fenna and hid behind a boulder. They were in different cave, a smaller one she'd discovered by accident. Since she hadn't heard any villagers mention it before, she'd hoped no one knew of its existence.

A bear shuffled into view, blocking the exit, and she froze, biting her lip to keep from gasping. It wasn't the largest she'd ever seen, but was still much bigger and stronger than she was. She'd seen a villager carried home following a bear attack, so she knew the damage they were capable of.

Fenna snarled, the sound surprisingly loud.

Girl, horrified at the thought of her friend getting hurt, whispered, "Be quiet." If only she had fire, she'd use it to drive away the intruder.

Something flashed on the ground to the far left of the cave. It looked almost like a spark, but she knew that was impossible and turned her back to it. Fire couldn't just appear out of nowhere.

The bear sniffed audibly and rose to its back legs, snarling.

She had trouble breathing and glanced around wildly for a weapon, but only saw twigs. She'd gathered several the previous day and tried to set them on fire with two rocks, but hadn't been successful.

Fenna whined and Girl murmured soothing sounds, even though she knew they were going to die. But she gasped when she looked into her friend's eyes. They glowed, tiny flames dancing in them.

"Fire?" Girl whispered. Whirling, she stared at the area where she'd seen something flash earlier. Branches burned there and she grabbed one, brandishing it at the bear which was almost upon them.

It roared, eyes wide and scared, then turned and ran out of the cave.

Girl dropped the branch, felt her legs wobble and give way beneath her, and she sank to the ground. Her chest was tight and she shook all over.

Fenna snuggled up to her and she hugged the animal as sobs shook her body.

"Your fire saved us," she said when she finally felt calmer. "I knew you were amazing, but I didn't know you had magic." She studied her companion closely. "Horns. That's like dragons. But your ears… And you don't have scales or wings. You have fur and a lion's tail. What are you?"

Three days later

The blow took Girl by surprise and she collapsed, her entire head aching. She felt as if a tree or boulder had landed on her. Struggling to her feet, she felt dizziness wash over her, and she swayed.

Grokk sneered, drew back his large fist to strike her again, but something gold flew through the air and knocked him down. Red-faced, he stood, glaring. "Give me a spear!" he bellowed. He caught one thrown by someone in his hunting party and aimed it at Fenna.

"No!" Girl screamed. She threw herself between the enraged man and animal right as Grokk threw the weapon.

Fenna moved so fast her body blurred, swatting the spear out of the air with a paw.

Girl dropped to her knees, throwing her arms around her friend's neck. "You saved me."

"Don't just stand there like moon-struck idiots!" Grokk shouted to the villagers. "Get weapons! Now!"

People came running from all directions with clubs, stones, spears, knives, and sticks, but they stood still when Fenna shifted position and faced them. Her body expanded, horns growing longer, and wings sprouted from her back.

"A gryphagon." The speaker was Aarn, a respected man known for trying to speak reason to their Head Man. Sinking to the ground, he threw away his knife. "I never dreamed I'd see one in my lifetime."

Others discarded their weapons, too, speaking in awed tones of the rare creature that was part-gryphon, part-dragon. According to lore, the Great Goddess Chonni had been befriended by one, but very few humans were.

"Kill the beast!" Grokk bellowed. "Do it now!" Snatching a club out of another man's hands, he charged toward Fenna, who now towered over him.

She breathed fire from her mouth and nostrils, engulfing him in flames, and his horrified screams rent the air. No one intervened, and his wails soon tapered off.

Girl stood motionless, her mouth hanging open.

Fenna turned, lowered her head, gently nuzzled her friend's cheek, and began to shimmer. Voices rose in wonder as a blinding light illuminated them for a few moments before fading.

The gryphagon remained beside Girl, but bared her teeth at the villagers.

"We bear you no ill will, Great One," Arrn said, voice shaking. "And I proclaim this the Day of Days. Many of us here disagreed with Grokk's treatment of magic-bearers, but he would not listen to us. I say now: never again will any be harmed." He prostrated himself before the gryphagon before raising his head and looking at her, hope shining in his eyes. "Does this meet with your favor, Great One?"

Fenna studied him a few moments, and then bowed her head briefly.

Tears glistened in Arrn's eyes. Clearing his throat, he rose to his feet, eyed Girl and bowed to her also. "I am proud to bestow a name upon you at this time. Now and henceforth, you shall be known as Chonni."

Girl gasped. Me? Gifted the greatest name there ever was? She looked into Fenna's eyes, felt her love, and hugged her friend tightly.

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